REPORT
5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE ACTIONS 5.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS
5.1
Analysis Against Key Outcomes and Action Plan for Next Phase
Engagement With 60 People Across the Region in Depth
With Sustainability Issues 25 community representatives
were engaged in depth at 3 focus groups across the region. The locations were
Lancaster, Speke and Warrington. 5000 Members
of the Public Engaged Through the Use of Questionnaires, to Ascertain Their Perception
of Barriers to Engagement in Sustainability At
the request of the focus group participants and due to budget implications on
their recommendations 1000 members of the public were engaged during the trials.
5000 direct mail particpants would have been available with an increase in budget.
This has clear implications to scaling future projects/engagements. It is difficult
to define the full number of people who have engaged by word of mouth, visual
promos or have hit the AfS website due to the project. Testing
of Different Methods of Engagement With “Hard to Reach” Groups
Direct mail packs sent to 1000 partcipants. Response
to one letter: 9% response rate from cold consumer
letters (400 with unlimited potential)
16% response rate from existing project
particpants (25)
6% from Community Northwest general mailing (200x2)
1% from events and handouts (100 to individuals interested in youth activity)
3% goneaways
There were 6 engagement locations
visited by the “Team Sorrel” film crew: Higher Education Centre, walkabout
in rural town, Under 16 football match, Sustainability Centre, After School Club
(primary school age) and mid scale city promtional event to promote youth activitites.
The project was completed in a 4 month period.
Increased Awareness of the Barriers to Engagement and
the Subsequent Development by the AfS Team of an Action Plan to Plan Further Targeted
Engagement. A full evaluation meeting by all
partners took place. At this meeting the focus group findings were reviewed, the
successes of the engagement trials were analysed and the recommendations from
video were further developed. The Following
Key Actions Were Agreed: Short Term (May
2003 - September 2003) “Thank you”
mini event for up to 30 delegates from the project participants and respondents.
The event will also be used to consult on the AfS action plan document for the
region. 2 feedback meetings with key partners.
Provide support for local networks and create a knowledge
base of key sustainability issues at a Regional level. This will be done through
a series of “problem buster” fact sheets to help people pass through
the “overwhelm point” were they feel unable to act on sustainability
issues because they feel the subject is too difficult and therefore overwhelming.
Mid Term (September 2003 - April 2004)
Create a training pack on “Engaging with “Hard
to Reach” groups and sustaining their involvement”. This pack will be
delivered alongside a series of events to train and increase local networks. The
series of events will also act to promote AfS through awareness raising and sponsorship
profile. Mid/Long Term (January 2004 – April
2004) Ongoing direct mail campaign to encourage
<number in 1000s> “Hard to Reach” individuals to “jump”
from caring for the environment to caring for the wider issues of sustainability. Back
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